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If you were stranded on a desert
island which 4 books would you like to have with you and why?
My first
choice would be Songs of Innocence and
Experience by William Blake. Each pair of poems speaks of the journey from
innocence to experience and debates whether it is better to remain ignorant of
all life’s trials and tribulations or to live life to the full.
Following a
bit of a theme here, my second choice would be a children’s book: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by
Kate Di Camillo. This is the tale of a china rabbit who spends his days
looking at a pristine white tablecloth. One day, his life suddenly changes when
he embarks on an adventurous journey. Again, the story asks the question of
whether taking a risk in life is more fulfilling than staying behind the front
door! Perhaps it will help to explain why I have arrived on the island in the
first place.
Third choice…mmmm…
I am rather fond of the shipping forecast on Radio 4 and have a romantic
picture of a rugged ship’s captain glued to the radio listening for the weather
in Dogger Bank. I have a lovely book called Rain
Later, Good by Peter Collyer and I would add this to my list. He takes each shipping forecast area and
conjures up these mythical locations using detailed drawings and poetry. I
could pretend I was a radio presenter and invent a shipping forecast each
morning.
Lastly, I
will not be very patient on this island and may be prone to the odd complaint.
To help me put this into perspective, I should like a very big book on the Lives of the Saints. Perhaps then, I
will be a better person when I am rescued!
If you could bring one of the
characters to life, for company, who would you choose and why?
I don’t
think I would like William Blake as company for a lengthy period as poets tend
to be a bit solitary and a china rabbit might be a bit limiting and somewhat
delicate. There are no actual characters in the Rain Later Good book so I think I will go for a good selection of
saints; Thomas Aquinas, John Fisher and Thomas More. They would offer a nice mix of being
interesting and scholarly and then they will wander off for more contemplative
moments and leave me to practise my shipping forecast.
You can have one luxury item on the
island with you…what would it be?
A big bottle
of Chanel 5 perfume please.
You are rescued and can only take one
book back with you…which one would you pick?
Do you know,
I think I will leave them all behind for the next shipwrecked person. Would
that not be the start of an island library?
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